Sinhala and Tamil New Year Celebrations in Hawaii 2014

April 12, 2014

The Sri Lankan Ohana in Hawaii met at the Kamehameha park to celebrate the Sinhala and
Tamil New Year. This is an event Dr. and Mrs. Dayananda Vithanage has organized annually for
the past 24 year and has become a tradition the Sri Lanka community in Hawaii look forward to.

The morning celebrations started with the traditional " boiling milk" ceremony. Amidst the
cheering of the ohana the pot of milk boiled over denoting good luck for all. Lunch as usual was
the big attraction. The table was laden with rice and curry dishes, cutlets, chutneys, pickles and
condiments made by the community members. As always overeating is a New Year tradition
and it was hard not to overeat!

The fun filled afternoon was sunny yet slightly chilly, ideal for the games to begin. Lime and
spoon was the most popular of the games, while the "dress up" and "filling the water bottle"
relays were hilarious and enjoyable.

The afternoon tea table laden with traditional sweetmeats was a delicious sight. To end it all
was the fragrant cup-o-tea and a bag of Sinhala sweet meats each and every guest received as
a takeaway favor.

It was time for the inevitable cricket match that went on till dusk. From kids to parents and
grandparents parents they all had a fun day and agreed to meet again next year to celebrate
Sinhala and Tamil New Year.